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Paul Dye

Paul Dye
908 POSTS 26 COMMENTS
Paul Dye, KITPLANES® Editor at Large, retired as a Lead Flight Director for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, with 50 years of aerospace experience on everything from Cubs to the Space Shuttle. An avid homebuilder, he began flying and working on airplanes as a teen and has experience with a wide range of construction techniques and materials. He flies an RV-8 and SubSonex jet that he built, an RV-3 that he built with his pilot wife, as well as a Dream Tundra and an electric Xenos motorglider they completed. Currently, they are building an F1 Rocket. A commercially licensed pilot, he has logged over 6000 hours in many different types of aircraft and is an A&P, FAA DAR, EAA Tech Counselor and Flight Advisor; he was formerly a member of the Homebuilder’s Council. He consults and collaborates in aerospace operations and flight-testing projects across the country.

Oil Filter Anti Drainback Valve

3
For those of you using 48108-2 oil filters on an angle adapter, here’s a bit of trivia for you. Not everyone knows that these...

The Slow Failure

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Mechanical fuel pumps are pretty reliable, in general. I know folks who will disagree, having replaced them early in the life of an engine,...

Fighter Squadron

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An RV Builder by the name of Charlie Derk posted this opioid online, and when I looked at it, I realized that it looked...

Wrapped

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RV builder/owner Tony Kirk took no chances when the predicted storm came though on the first Saturday night of AirVenture. He followed the lead,...

Van’s on Top

5
A utility-first airplane turns Van’s design chops upside down.

Trying on the Two-Seater

5
I am probably one of the higher-time SubSonex JSX-2 pilots around, so it was with great interest that I dropped in at the Sonex...

We Owe Paul Better

7
I rarely, if ever, do public service announcements, but I was on the AirVenture grounds early the other morning, and saw something that would...

Let’s be Careful Out There

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We get it folks—its been a long week, you’re tired, and you are ready to put Wittman Field in your mirror and head for...

Beer, Brats, and Curds

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When you’re visiting a foreign country, I believe it is important to eat the local food—and as a born-and-bred Minnesotan, I am bound by...

My Favorite AirVenture Hideaways

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If you have been to AirVenture before, you know it is immense. If you haven’t, and this is your first time, prepare to be...

In Case You Missed It

GlaStar in flight

Return to Flight

5
A GlaStar’s Titan IO-340’s tale of tweaks and temptations.

A Seal Deal

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Radial oil seals, the kind found on rotating parts such as crankshafts, cam shafts...

The Big Bearhawk

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Bearhawk 5: more room, more horsepower…more everything.

Design Process: Horizontal Tail

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The horizontal tail has two functions. It provides control power to trim and maneuver...